If you thought your money was safe in a nationalised bank, then beware!

A sum of more than Rs eight lakh deposited by a senior manager with Dabur India Ltd, Sahibabad, in a government-controlled bank has vanished owing to "online fraud".

It was a nightmare for 54-year-old S P Yatri, who had a balance of more than Rs eight lakh with the Punjab National Bank, Extension Counter at Dabur India Ltd in Sahibabad, to get an SMS from ICICI bank saying equated monthly instalment through Electronic Clearing System for February was bounced.

Surprised over the text message, Yatri rushed to nearby ATM to find that he has a balance of only Rs 526.

"I immediately contacted PNB call centre and intimated them regarding the same. Later I was told by Irfan (call centre executive) that more than Rs eight lakh has been fraudulently transferred to various accounts and was advised to lodge an FIR," a worried Yatri said.

When he contacted the bank, he was told the amount has been transferred to 13 different account holders of PNB in different states like Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

Realising that he has become a victim of online fraud, Yatri went to Preet Vihar Police Station and lodged an FIR in this regard.

Over half a year has passed by, but Yatri has only got assurances from police and bank officials. The senior manager is running from pillar to post to get his money back.

"I have written to Union Home Ministry. Besides, I have met senior police officials. But I am yet to get anything concrete. I have been duped by the bank," he charged.

"Bank officials are so callous that they do not respond to my numerous queries. I see a great struggle ahead to get my money back," he said.

Queries by PTI on email did not elicit any response from the bank nor anyone could be contacted over phone.

When contacted, a senior police official said, "the matter is being investigated."

"According to preliminary inquiries done by police, most of these bank accounts are fake and opened by submitting forged documents and fake introducers. Despite the norms set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the PNB did not inform me about 45 transactions that took place within 7-8 days to divert all money from my account to others," Yatri alleged.

"It is disheartening to note that money is unsafe in nationalised banks," he added.